Most states prosecute educators (teachers) for improper sexual contact with students under the state’s statutory rape laws—which are premised on the student being under the age of consent recognized by law, even if the student was a willing participant.

But some states have enacted specific statutes making it a crime—often a felony—for an educator to have sexual contact with a student—even if the student has reached the age of consent (17 years of age, for example).

Laws vary from state to state, and laws governing sexual contact between educators and students are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Connecticut, it is illegal for an educator to engage in sexual activity with a student. The state has specific statutes that address sexual contact between teachers and students, which is considered a criminal offense regardless of the student's age or consent. Under Connecticut law, such conduct is often prosecuted under the charge of 'sexual assault in the second degree' when the student is a minor, and it is a felony. This is outlined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 53a-71, which prohibits a school employee from engaging in sexual intercourse with a student enrolled in a school where the employee works. The law applies to students under 18 years of age, and violations can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment. Additionally, if the student is of the age of consent, which is 16 in Connecticut, the educator may still face charges under different statutes that criminalize sexual activity between educators and students due to the inherent power imbalance and the duty of care owed by educators to students.